Recommended Cartridge Output
The cartridge output-voltage range recommended for the input or step-up setting.
This is a matching recommendation for the cartridge’s signal, normally expressed in millivolts. It differs from the device’s own output voltage, gain and measured overload limit.
Recommended Cartridge Output — Step-Up Transformer (SUT)
For a Phono Step-Up Transformer, the recommended cartridge output helps select a suitable ratio or tap. A lower-output cartridge may need more voltage step-up, while excessive step-up can overload the following MM stage.
Read each recommended range with its matching ratio and cartridge-impedance recommendation. Where the manufacturer gives only an upper or lower limit, preserve that condition rather than assuming a complete range.
Compare cartridge output figures measured under equivalent conditions, including the stated groove velocity. The recommendation does not replace checking the MM stage’s sensitivity and headroom, and the largest available ratio is not automatically the right choice.
Recommended Cartridge Output — MC Head Amp
For a Phono Head Amp, the recommended output range helps identify cartridges suited to its gain and input arrangement. It can guide the choice of setting before the boosted signal reaches an MM phono stage.
Keep the range with the relevant gain setting and any stated conditions. A cartridge-output recommendation is not the same as a measured maximum input before distortion, even when both are expressed in millivolts.
Compare the cartridge’s rated output on the same measurement basis, then check the following stage’s requirements. The range alone does not establish suitable loading or noise performance; cartridge impedance and the head amp’s other specifications still matter.